Hawaii: Inspiring the next generation of cybersecurity experts A report detailing Hawaii’s leadership in finding, motivating, and developing the cyber-capable workforce in the United States. Dear Governor Ige, Your insight and leadership in bringing CyberStart to the students of Hawaii is already paying dividends for them in the form of learning and scholarships, and it can lead to future job growth and improved cybersecurity in Hawaii. Results of the CyberStart pilot program, ably managed by Reynold Hioki, Cybersecurity Manager for your Department of Defense, with help from Arnold Kishi and IT and security leaders at the University of Hawaii, are summarized below. But before you dig into the numbers and see the lists of high-performing Hawaii students, please turn to the last page and back cover of this booklet to enjoy personal notes that participating students wrote specifically for you. Program Highlights: • In just two weeks in July, your communications team was able to sign up 317 Hawaii students. students initially registered to see how well they could do • 78% of them solved at least one of the assessment challenges and 51% solved enough 317 on CyberStart Assess, the program’s qualifying exam. to be invited to test their cyber aptitude on the 250+ challenges of the full CyberStart program, which they did during August 2017. At the same time your fellow governors in six states signed up a total of nearly 3,300 students. students got one or more answers correct • Eight Hawaii high school and college students were in the overall top 50 nationally, and in CyberStart Assess. 22 Hawaiian students won scholarships for more advanced education in cybersecurity. 248 Of special note is that Hawaii had a far larger number of high scorers and scholarship winners on a per capita basis than any of the other states. • The state of Hawaii excelled in the program, being above average in all topics covered. students qualified for the Topics included: Linux, web application, forensics, cryptography and programming. 51% CyberStart Game. • As you might guess from the students’ notes, they liked CyberStart: 161 95% said they would recommend the program to a friend 98% are considering further cybersecurity training after the program students reached the elite levels (7+) in the HQ Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help as you continue to identify talent and 40 base of the program. grow the next generation of cybersecurity experts in Hawaii. Sincerely, Alan Paller Scholarships 22 SANS Institute Director of Research [email protected] Hawaii’s next cybersecurity professionals. Program Introduction What Do Players Learn? CyberStart is a forward-thinking skills program designed to supply specialist cybersecurity The CyberStart Game has over 300 hours of content and covers 14 main topic areas. There education to young people across the United States. Using a suite of online challenges, are two “bases” that make up the game, each containing several levels and challenges that tools and games it aims to inspire the next generation of cybersecurity professionals while candidates move through: the Headquarters Base and the Moon Base. identifying the best and most talented young Americans. We are facing a significant shortage of trained and skilled cybersecurity professionals at a Bases time when online technologies continue to evolve, and cybercriminals are becoming more sophisticated. The only way to solve this problem is to introduce, develop and help young The Headquarters Base forms the main part The Moon Base is where players learn how people in high school and college pursue a career in this sector. of the game. Players take on the role of a to program. Players go through a series of junior agent in the Cyber Protection Agency, challenges, building up progressively, to Phases where they deploy their forensics and write their own programs in Python. The offensive skills to sleuth through challenges aim of the Moon Base is for players to use all CyberStart Assess is a set of 8 questions CyberStart Game is where students and tackle various online cyber criminal the skills they have learned to stop an alien that test a student’s aptitude and existing become exposed to specialist cybersecurity gangs. As they work their way up through the invasion. The Moon Base has three training knowledge of computer security. Based on education. Using a suite of online tools, organization, their training develops each of levels that are step by step guides to the identifiable, measurable key skills and traits, challenges and games, players attempt to the security disciplines. basics of programming. it works to find young people who possess solve more than 250 challenges, all of which The HQ Base teaches students skills in: Later levels teach students skills in: the innate qualities of an effective security are realistic examples of tests and threats practitioner. Questions look for traits such faced by practicing cybersecurity engineers • Binary • Programming cryptography as problem solving, logical extrapolation and in their day-to-day lives. The CyberStart • Cryptography • Debugging attention to detail, all of which have been Game enables students to start studying proven to be crucial to succeed in a security security with challenges written by experts • Forensics • Files career. who practice these skills in the real world. • Linux • Functions Goals • Open-source intelligence • Loops • Programming • Sockets • Supply specialist cybersecurity education • Inspire the next generation of • Web application • Strings for 16+year olds. cybersecurity experts. • Grow the U.S. cyber capable workforce. • Identify the most elite young talent. Top 100/ CyberStart Players in Hawaii Last Name First Name School Scholarship Chun Lauren Sacred Hearts Academy Key Cobbs Justin University of Hawaii, West Oahu ** In the top 100 and awarded a scholarship * Awarded a scholarship Decker Dylan Kalani High School ** Dedicatoria Kenneth University of Hawaii, West Oahu DiRienzo Vincent University of Hawaii ** Top 100/ Last Name First Name School Scholarship Domingo Joshua University of Hawaii, Manoa Agarano Joshua University of Hawaii, Maui Domingo Warren University of Hawaii, Manoa Ahloo Sean Kapiolani Community College Dossey Stephen University of Maryland University College Alvarez Jeffrey Leeward Community College Drumeller Michael Kapiolani Community College Amandin Chyba Homeschool Rabeendran Eshelman Ian Mililani High School Antiado Carl H.P. Baldwin High School Evans Janice University of Hawaii, West Oahu Arnobit Aiyana Noelle Sacred Hearts Academy Goo Tallas University of Hawaii, Manoa Barrar David Homeschool Graham James Kapiolani Community College Bay Christian Kapiolani Community College Grayson Oliver Hawaii Preparatory Academy ** Bolibol Mark Jonel Honolulu Community College H Dan Homeschool Borgonia Lyndon Leeward Community College Hayworth Jayson University of Hawaii, West Oahu Boyce Kainoa Northern Arizona University Hellum Addison Myron B. Thompson Academy Briggles Bryce University of Hawaii, West Oahu Higashionna Ryan Assets High School Buenafe Marvin Arnold University of Hawaii, West Oahu ** Ho Ky University of Hawaii, Manoa Chan Philip University of Hawaii Hom Scott Universit of Hawaii, Manoa Horiuchi Nathan Honolulu Community College ** Chang Edward University of Hawaii ** Ito Elliot University of Hawaii, Manoa Chen Wendy University of Hawaii, Manoa Kam Darren Iolani School ** Chiques Jacques Leeward Community College Galarza Kansaki Allen University of Hawaii, West Oahu Chong Tyler University of Hawaii, Manoa ** Kaohi Alexandra University of Hawaii, West Oahu Top 100/ Top 100/ Last Name First Name School Last Name First Name School Scholarship Scholarship Kay Sara Punahou School Nakahodo Dylan University of Hawaii, Manoa ** Kim Brian University of Hawaii, West Oahu Nakamatsu Keith University of Hawaii, Manoa Kitagawa Ryuto Kalani High School Nakashima Cole Punahou School Kobayashi Marco de University of Hawaii, Manoa ** Nakata Ryan University of Hawaii, Manoa * Lannoy Nasca Joseph University of Hawaii, Manoa * Krug Kolton Leeward Community College Nash Monnisa University of Hawaii, Maui Kuakini Robert University of Hawaii, West Oahu * Nitta Kara University of Hawaii, West Oahu Kumar Aditya University of Hawaii, Manoa Oh Courtney Leeward Community College Lau Jaime Kapiolani Community College Okabe Jun University of Hawaii, Manoa Lau Kinaole Mulan Homeschool Palmer Catherine Sacred Hearts Academy Lauw Megan Mililani High School Pang J Leeward Community College Law Evan University of Hawaii, Manoa ** Paul John University of Hawaii, West Oahu Le Duong University of West Oahu * Perry Lily Iolani School Lee Jason Kapiolani Community College Reimer Cameron Pearl City High School Lee Kelly University of Hawaii, Manoa Ryan Kevin University of Hawaii, West Oahu * Levesque Kyle University of Hawaii, Manoa Sarte Catherine University of Hawaii, West Oahu * Li Dan University of Hawaii, Manoa Seki Ryota University of Hawaii, Manoa Lin Helen Sacred Hearts Academy Shaw Nicholas Mililani High School Luke Korry Iolani School * Spain Skyler Hilo High School Mansilungan Rachelle University of Hawaii, West Oahu Stallings Emiley HOCO Matsuda Christelle University of Hawaii Stoycheff Brittany University of Hawaii, West Oahu Matsushima Mele Eastern Gateway Community Taga Max University of Hawaii, Manoa College Takafuji Sean University of Hawaii at Manoa * McCann Jared Homeschool Tay Jason Punahou School ** Miller Robert Hawaii Technology Academy Thai Mindy Sacred Hearts